Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS)
Supporting early-career faculty in Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) at underrepresented institutions to launch research careers for diverse STEM workforce.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
U.S. National Science Foundation has archived this opportunity.
Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Due Dates: April 17, 2025 | January 22, 2026 | Fourth Thursday in January, annually thereafter
Funding Amounts: Up to $250,000 total costs per award for up to 24 months; estimated 45–75 awards; total program funding up to $18,750,000.
Summary: Supports pre-tenure faculty at non-R1 U.S. institutions in mathematical and physical sciences to launch independent research programs and broaden participation in STEM.
Key Information: Not open to R1 institutions; PI must be pre-tenure and have no prior NSF research award as PI/co-PI.
Description
This opportunity supports early-career, pre-tenure faculty in the mathematical and physical sciences (MPS) at U.S. institutions that do not have "Very High Research Activity" (i.e., not classified as R1 under the Carnegie Classification). The goal is to help faculty at these institutions—such as R2 universities, minority-serving institutions (MSIs), and predominantly undergraduate institutions (PUIs)—establish productive research programs and prepare for future competitive NSF funding. The program also aims to broaden participation in STEM by increasing the involvement of underrepresented and underserved groups and fostering role models in the scientific workforce.
Research projects must align with one of the five MPS divisions: Astronomical Sciences, Chemistry, Materials Research, Mathematical Sciences, or Physics. The award supports activities that will increase the PI's competitiveness for future NSF proposals and positively impact the institutional research environment and student preparation for STEM careers.
